The Reading Studios Foundation
The Reading Studios Foundation was born from the strong conviction that reading is one of the most enjoyable and formative human experiences. Our project, carried out each year for a different linguistic or cultural community, involves providing a collection of carefully selected books and organizing activities that promote reading and foster literary culture. In cooperation with partner organizations abroad, we establish reading studios—safe, cozy spaces for quiet time with books as well as creative literary meetings.
Over the years, we have surrounded the established communities of readers with a lasting network of support from local actors in the publishing, literary, and reading sectors. But at the heart of our work are books. For each project, we create a catalog that showcases our shared human heritage—the most beautiful and valuable novels, plays, and poetry from around the world—alongside the cherished literary works of the specific culture of the project.
Board
Dorota
Niedzwiecka
Founder and chairlady
Dorota Niedźwiecka chose a life with books at an early stage. She holds a Master's degree in Literature from the University of Kraków and a Master's in Philosophy from the University of Geneva, these led her to numerous projects in writing and the arts. Born in Poland, based in Switzerland and the UK, she exemplifies a modern, post-national, borderless humanity. Her true passion lies in working with charities and NGOs on artistic and educational programs, which culminated in the creation of the Reading Studios Foundation in 2023.
Magdalena
Dobrzańska-Bzowska
Board member
Magdalena Dobrzańska-Bzowska graduated in History from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. She gained professional experience in academia, working as an assistant to the dean at the Tischner European University in Kraków. For over a decade, she has worked for a government agency responsible for international cooperation, collaborating with leading research funding organizations from Europe, China, and the United States. Passionate about reading, she is particularly interested in history, reportage, and biographies.
Karolina
Zalwert
Board member
Karolina Zalwert graduated in Economics from the University of Opole and in HR Management from the Warsaw School of Economics. Although her education was in Economics, she always felt her true passion lay in the field of education. This led her to build her career around education, focusing on management, development, and personal growth.
After many years of experience in business, she was offered the opportunity to work for the Reading Studios Foundation, a chance she embraced without hesitation.
As the saying goes, “It’s sometimes hard to say who gains more from helping—those who receive or those who give”.
Literature is an art form, and as such, it should not be reduced to mere entertainment or used to advance educational or political agendas. It should serve its original and fundamental purpose: to nourish and elevate the human soul.
